A 2.0 kg laboratory cart slides frictionlessly along a straight horizontal track at…
PHYSICS · Multi-part · CBSE · Physics · Work, Energy and Power · Work, Energy and Power
Problem
A 2.0 kg laboratory cart slides frictionlessly along a straight horizontal track at 3.0 m s^−1 and then collides head-on with a 1.5 kg lump of soft clay that is initially at rest on the track. The clay sticks to the cart on impact, and they continue to move together.
(a) Calculate the magnitude and direction (positive is the original direction of the cart) of the common speed immediately after the collision. Express your answer with appropriate units.
(b) Determine the magnitude of the system’s total kinetic energy before the collision and immediately after the collision.
(c) Compute the percentage of kinetic energy that is lost during the collision, showing all steps of your calculation.
(d) Describe physically what happens to the kinetic energy that is lost, citing at least two forms or mechanisms by which it may leave the mechanical energy account of the system.